Accomplishments

According to Florida Statute 20.315(5), "The department shall report annually to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives recounting its activities and making recommendations for improvements to the performance of the department." The following accomplishments and recommendations are provided to fulfill those requirements.

• Designed and implemented an emergency operations office in the Central Office building along with wiring several critical offices to the diesel generator (auxiliary power), which provided support through the last round of hurricanes and assists with the department's emergency management and disaster mitigation and recovery efforts. Implemented the first release and modifications of the Secretary's Emergency Management Application. The application was utilized during the four recent hurricanes which impacted the State of Florida and affected the department this hurricane season. The system publishes existing emergency plans, provides real-time weather information feeds from the National Weather Service, provides a communication hub for the entire department and assignment/response tool, enables access to local and state emergency authorities and remote connectivity throughout the department statewide and within the State Emergency Operations Center.
  
  
• Beginning in May 2002 the department contracted with Western Union to enable friends and families to send funds to inmates using their "Quick Collect Service." This service credits the inmates' accounts quicker than mailing a money order. The department receives $1 per transaction, which is estimated to total $715,000 over the three-year term of the contract. The department timely processed 712,592 money orders from inmate family and friends totaling approximately $35 million and 198,992 Western Union "Quick Collect" service transactions totaling approximately $16 million. The "Quick- Collect" program generated revenues to the department of $361,990.
  
  
• Implemented an enhanced version of the Facility Access Secure Tracking (FAST) application statewide to control visitation to institutions. FAST uses hand geometry biometrics, photos and data to ensure proper visitor credentials. It radically speeds up vistor authentication and is a security and public safety success story.
  
  
• Successfully automated the department's performance evaluation process to allow supervisors to complete their employees' performance evaluations using the Intranet to complete the evaluation. This process reduces paper, processing time, and provides a central point to store and retrieve all performance evaluations.
  
  
• Centralized major procurements and contracts, which has resulted in more efficient contracting through economy-of-scale purchases, better oversight of procurement requests, and assurance of uniformity in the procurement process. During FY 2003-04, 178 contracts were processed contributing to over 420 contracts being maintained by central office.
  
  
• Completed installation of 60kw micro turbine at Tomoka Correctional Institution. This project is a joint Distributive Generation Research and Development project with Florida Power and Light (FP&L) utilizing micro turbine technology. The micro turbine is grid-connected to the FP&L system operating in parallel with FP&L and is not a stand-alone generator. The objective of this project is to evaluate the technology and applications. The micro turbine supplies only 7% of Tomoka's entire electric load. It supplies some of the heat and energy load to the laundry. During peak shaving phase of the testing, the micro turbine supplies the peak load portion of the institution's electrical needs while FP&L provides the rest. The normal run condition of the micro turbine is during the operating hours of the laundry. Its primary purpose is to provide hot water during the operation period of the laundry; and electricity as a secondary function. FP&L and the department will be jointly evaluating various applications of the micro turbine.
  
  
• In an effort to support the Governor's "Just Read, Florida" initiative, the department implemented a statewide plan to collect new and used books to distribute to underprivileged children in our local communities in June 2003. A goal was set to collect 10,000 books statewide by the end of the year. However, we collected over 44,100 books in just four months. The books were given to the local Boys & Girls clubs and other local agencies that mentor/assist with the special needs of underprivileged children in the communities. As part of the initiative, many of the facilities within the department collect school supplies that were given to local schools for needy children.
  
  
• To further promote and support the Governor's Mentoring Initiative, on July 14, 2003, the department implemented a statewide Mentoring Initiative to recruit mentors for the new school year and to recruit mentoring coordinators from each facility throughout the state. During 2004, staff used 3,223 hours of administrative leave and provided an additional 8,369 hours of their personal time after work hours and on the weekends at local schools and community organizations in local communities. Mentors touch the lives of children in many different ways and places.
  
  
• Operation Enduring Freedom-Troop Assistance Project: A specialized DC lapel pin was designed and sold to benefit the families of our 310 employees who were called to active military duty as a result of the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. To date, over $65,600 has been collected statewide through the sale of pins and donations. Telephone cards were sent to staff and their families to be used to contact their loved ones. The money raised has been divided and given to the families of activated employees.
  
  
• Computers for Kids is a program to repair and refurbish donated computer equipment through offender vocational education programs. Computer equipment is donated to the Corrections Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt non-profit direct support organization (DSO) to the Florida Department of Corrections. Repair and refurbishing is accomplished by offenders through vocational training programs available at selected sites throughout the state. The refurbished computer equipment is then donated by the Foundation to schools and community organizations for the benefit of Florida children. Repair sites are established at three correctional institutions: Cross City, Glades, and Sumter. For the FY 2003-2004, over 1,055 computer systems were refurbished and donated by the Foundation to166 community organizations throughout the state.
  
  
• The Corrections Foundation is the not-for-profit direct support organization (DSO) for the Department of Corrections. Authorized by Florida Statutes, Chapter 944.802, the Foundation supports the programs, personnel, and services for the department in the interest of public safety through grants, contributions, and community partnerships. Activities include emergency family assistance for employees and support for education, wellness, faith-based, parenting, health, and work-related programs. All activities are intended to further the Mission and Vision of the department to help assure public safety. The Foundation assists employees of the department when family emergencies occur through its Employee Assistance Program. The goal of this program is to provide immediate assistance when the need is most critical. Funds donated by employees for casual days, other designated special events, as well as the annual employee membership to the Foundation, are used to assist DC employees. In FY 2003-04, the Foundation provided financial assistance totaling $312,000 to 222 employees through this program. This program is made possible through the membership of over 9,400 DC employees that support the Foundation through payroll deduction or annual membership.
  
  
• In order to provide a more consistent and efficient grievance process the department established four regional grievance administrators and four institutional grievance coordinator positions. The regional grievance administrators are responsible for training, monitoring, providing guidance, evaluating, and supervising institutional grievance coordinators. They assist with institutional caseloads in the absence of the institutional grievance coordinators and assist institutional staff with the interpretation of the rules and in monitoring compliance.
  
  
• The three-member Annual Report Layout and Design Team won a 2004 Davis Productivity Award for saving the state of Florida more than $7,000 this year by creating the Department of Corrections' Annual Report in-house, using existing software and staff, rather than contracting it out as has been done in the past. These savings will continue each year. The report was also completed earlier, making it accessible to staff and the public sooner in both hard copy and on the web.
  
  
• Research staff enhanced the department's recidivism analysis methodology and updated information with inmates released through June 2001 for our current report, demonstrating for the first time that Florida inmates on post-release supervision are less likely to re-offend and be reimprisoned for new offenses. Recommend that the department extend application of the recidivism analysis methodology, now accepted by academic peer review, to measure effects of department programs, services, and functions on inmate recidivism.
  
  
• In cooperation with Florida State University and the Correctional Privatization Commission, research staff used the department's methodology to produce a study on the effect of private prison exposure on inmate recidivism. From this study an article will be published (early 2005) in the American Society of Criminology's journal Criminology and Public Policy.
  
  
• The Office of Staff Development coordinated delivery of 48,537 training classes to 523,322 participants in department training events. A total of 2,502,456 hours of training was conducted during the 2003-04 training year.
  
  
• Received over $1.4 million in trust fund monies from the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for the delivery of Advanced Training Courses and Specialized Training Program Courses for certified correctional officers and correctional probation officers of the department.
  
  
• Entered into a partnership agreement with 28 certified training centers throughout the state for the provision of Criminal Justice Standards Training Commission approved Advanced and Specialized Training for certified correctional officers and correctional probation officers of the department.
  
  
• Creation and development of CD ROM and web-based training materials. Maintenance of web-based training curricula on department web page. Researched, designed and developed or revised standardized training curricula for areas identified through needs assessments and program audits.
  
  
• Corrections Distance Learning Network facilitated 14 major satellite training teleconferences for over 45 hours reaching over 4,200 employees. Satellite usage resulted in savings of over $450,000 in travel and time off the job costs for the department. CDLN also facilitated 15 two-way video conferencing events for a total of 120 hours with 225 participants. This resulted in savings of over $19,000 for the department. In, addition, CDLN collaborated with DOE to produce their annual statewide Adult and Vocational Education Funding training teleconference resulting in a second Davis Productivity Award. CDLN continues to support the concept of shared resources when available to reduce training costs for the department and other state agencies.
  
  
• Provided over 31,000 offenders with community-based substance abuse residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment services (17% received residential services and 83% received outpatient services). These services were provided through over 98 contracts with private providers in the community.
  
  
• Provided approximately 309 offenders with a jail incarceration program in five (5) contracted county programs (Wakulla, Dixie, Hamilton, Madison or Jackson County). These programs provide jail incarceration as an alternative to state prison.
  
  
• Provided approximately 392 offenders with contracted probation restitution center services, which includes a structured residential environment with a focus on employment, programming, community service work, and victim restitution. Offenders must be ordered into these contracted programs by the court or releasing authority. Services are provided through 4 contracts at 4 sites in the state (Jacksonville, Pensacola, Orlando and St. Petersburg).
  
  
• Provided over 700 released inmates with contracted Faith-Based Substance Abuse Transitional Housing services. These services were provided through 22-contracted Faith-Based Substance Abuse Transitional Housing providers at 36 sites throughout the state.
  
  
• Provided substance abuse mandatory programming to over 4,700 inmates with an overall successful completion rate of over 81%.
  
  
• Conducted over 30,000 inmate substance abuse screening assessments.
  
  
• Assisted in coordination and delivery of several training programs designed to enhance Correctional Probation Officer knowledge and skills. These programs include: Sex Offender Update for Sex Offender Trainers; Officer Safety and Survival Training provided officers with tools to survive a life-threatening incident, conduct offender interviews, and debrief after a traumatic incident; Recognizing Security Threat Groups provided information to assist the CPO in identifying gang members; Identifying Commonly Abused Drugs provided officers information on identifying common "street" drugs and paraphernalia they may encounter during routine home visits; Community Supervision of Female Offender Training provided CPOs with information pertaining specifically to supervising female offenders.
  
  
• Provided information coordination with law enforcement and assistance to field officers as needed in re-taking 16,588 offenders who were in absconder status.
  
  
• Enhanced coordination with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) (formerly known as INS) to ensure probationers receive reporting instructions prior to their release from ICE custody and do not go unsupervised after their release.
  
  
• Increase surveillance and accountability of offenders through additional partnerships with law enforcement agencies statewide to increase public safety through the sharing of GPS technology and crime tracking data.
  
  
• Increase participation in field supervision with staff through residence verifications and planned compliance initiatives during scheduled local training visits in an effort to provide intensive training and troubleshoot potential GPS concerns.
  
  
• Continue to assist in developing, coordinating and delivering job specific training to field staff to enhance their skills and ability to provide a level of supervision that is consistent with protecting the public.
  
  
• Coordinate delivery of "Training for the 21st Century Supervisor" for line supervisory staff ensuring all in these key positions are briefed on department mission and plans for the future.
  
  
• Increase use of distance learning technology for uniform, consistent and economical delivery of training programs for appropriate subject matter.
  
  
• Continue to partner with Florida Department of Law Enforcement to complete revision of the CPO Basic Recruit Training program.
  
  
• Develop web based data collection and tracking system to aid the absconder unit in processing investigations and keep field staff posted on progress. Enhancing the absconder search page on the public web site allows visitors to provide more detailed information regarding absconders anonymously. The more information received and processed, the higher the potential to apprehend more absconders.
  
  
• Deliver absconder training curriculum to field officers statewide via field training and posting of information and guidelines on the department's internal web site.
  
  
• Beginning February 2004, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been notifying the Department of Corrections any time a person under supervision attempts to purchase a firearm from a licensed firearm dealer. A person purchasing a firearm through a licensed dealer is subject to an instant background check by FDLE. If that person's record reveals that they are under felony supervision with the department, the purchase transaction is refused. FDLE sends an e-mail to the central office with a list of offenders who attempted to purchase a firearm. Central Office forwards the list to each region to investigate.
  
  
• The department continues to develop partnerships with local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies in order to promote public safety and crime prevention by agreeing to mutual exchange of offender and crime information and records, assistance in execution of warrants or searches or other initiatives to ensure the offender is in compliance with conditions of supervision or registration requirements, and sharing resources and equipment to assist in improving the delivery and quality of services to the community.
  
  
• During FY 2003-04, offenders supervised by the department performed a total of 811,622 public service hours for non-profit agencies (112,347 hours were performed by offenders on community control and 699,275 hours were performed by offenders on probation).
  
  
• During FY 2003-04, offenders paid $36,585,995 to victims of crime as restitution, $18,980,193 in court costs and fines, $25,874,735 in cost of supervision, and $12,016, 477 in other court ordered payments, for a total of $93,457,400.
  
  
• Effective August 1, 2004, Florida became a member of the new Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. The new compact was created to promote state cooperation in achieving increased public safety and offender accountability. New DC procedures were developed to encompass the new adult interstate rules adopted by the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS). Training on the new ICAOS rules was provided to all community corrections field staff. The Bureau completed over thirty (30) training sessions since April 2004 to state community corrections staff, county probation officers, institutional staff and judicial personnel.
  
  
• Establishment of the Jewish Dietary Accommodations program in April 2004. Legal worked with Office of Institutions to design a program to provide Jewish inmates a nutritious meal that does not violate the dietary standards of their religion. The program was established in response to requests from Jewish inmates alleging that the alternate entrée and vegan meal patterns provided to meet most religious needs do not meet their needs - i.e., that food provided in those programs is prepared or served in such a way as to violate dietary requirements of their religion.
  
  
• Provided assistance in implementing videoconferencing (for court hearings) in new CMHI facilities, setting up CMHI hearing process with courts, training CMHI staff, and revising RMC Hospital Governing Board By-Laws.
  
  
• Represented the department in approximately 400 cases concerning sentence structure. Prevailed in most of those cases, including Gaskins v. Crosby, 371 F.3d 820 (11th Cir. 2004), a case in the federal appellate court upholding the forfeiture of gaintime upon revocation of control release against an ex post factor challenge, allowing the agency to retain custody of inmates who violated supervision.
  
  
• The Wakulla CI Compassionate Care Unit is a program for terminally ill inmates having no treatment or curative alternatives remaining. Inmates in the program have signed a do not resuscitate or other advanced datives. Priority consideration is given to those inmates with conditional medical releases. Inmates are provided with palliative or comfort care.
  
  
• The Marion Diabetic Self-Management Program is an area within a dorm that was identified and modified for the program. Inmates are provided with essential education regarding their disease, its management and their ability to impact the progression of the disease. Inmates are allowed to manage their own insulin and syringes, within necessary security guidelines, and are able to monitor their blood glucose levels frequently.